navco may 2010
DESCRIPTION
monthly newsletterTRANSCRIPT
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April 25, 2010 Unitedville
Villa
April 25, 2010 Valley of Peace
Village Council Election Day
Esperanza Village Council
Election Day
May, 2010
Volume 1,
NAVCO
Newsletter
NAVCO Highlights
Village Council
Elections
First Round of
Elections
Feature of Orange Walk
DAVCO
National Agricultural
Trade Show Grounds
2010
Activities for month of
April
As previous years Village Council
Election was held every three years
without any political interference. The
villagers go to the poll, cast their votes
peacefully and quietly to select a new
chairperson and six councilors, while
some village councils have
uncontested elections.
After so many years of peaceful
Village Council Elections, it is sad to
write that these elections are not so
peaceful any more. Within six years
Village Council Elections have moved
to a higher level, it’s not just only
about villagers anymore. It is so
extraordinary that the two most
famous parties of the country, United
Democratic Party and Peoples United
Party, have rallied into the Village
Council Elections.
As we all know the Village Council
Elections is in its third week, and at
the end of every election the results
are posted and each party claims
victory.
The end of the first set of Village
Council Elections in the Cayo District
is finished. The National Association
of Village Councils (NAVCO) and
District Association of Village
Councils (DAVCO) will continue to
observe Village Council Elections
until the first week in the month of
June 2010.
Village Council Election
As the election continues there will be
newly elected and re-elected members to
the village councils. We welcome new
leaders, and we at the National
Association of Village Councils look
forward to continuing to work with
everyone to make Village Councils
efficient, effective and dedicated to their
villagers.
Chairman of Esperanza Village Council, new Internet Café for Esperanza Village
“Strengthening Local Governance to Enhance National Development”
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NAVCO NEWSLETTR
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NAVCO RESOURCE CENTRE
Opening Hours:
Monday – Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm
Computer access, personal
training on Email available
Reading of New Articles
Access to Spanish & English
Village Council Acts
Access of Village Council
Acts on DVD
Government, NGO’s and
Villages Information
My observations of the First round of Village
Councils Election in the Cayo District.
Sunday April 25, 2010 was the first round of
Village Council Elections in the Cayo District.
These villages included Valley of Peace,
Blackman Eddy, Unitedville, Esperanza, El
Progresso/7 miles, and Buena Vista. In some
villages like El Progresso, Unitedville, Buena
Vista and Valley of Peace the two major
political Parties Presence were evident by the
display of Party flags, political T-Shirts and
banners. The morning started very subtly with
nomination taking place from 9 am to 10 am.
Throughout the day in all communities voting
was a constant flow of voters in line. The
villagers went about the business of the day
voting. Thereafter some gathered under the tent
of the political party that they associated with
while those who had no affiliation with any of
the parties left for home.
Noticeable in communities where party
politics were evident, there was constant flare
up of heated arguments among representative
from both political parties coming from outside
the communities to the extent where the police
had to intervene. This type of behavior coming
from agents of the political parties was common
in El Progresso and Buena Vista. It was very
disturbing to see our political leaders and those
aspiring for political office act in such
demeaning manner. While it was agreed that
would be difficult to keep politics out, I
expected politicians to behave in a more
respectable manner.
Based on my observation of the first round of
Village Council Elections in the Cayo
District it was evident that the presence of
politicians and political interferences, if not
controlled by police, contributed significantly
to incidences of lawlessness.
I take this opportunity to urge those who are
running either for chairperson or councilors
to run for the right cause; to help develop
their communities to benefit all villagers.
First Round of Elections By Hilbert Lopez
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Introducing Olivia Canul
Orange Walk DAVCO
Mrs. Laureana
“Olivia” Canul is the Orange Walk DAVCO
Secretary. She has been working with the
Orange Walk DAVCO Board for the past
four years. Mrs. Canul publishes a monthly
newsletter, “The Village Voice”, and emails
to the Ministries, NAVCO and the DAVCO’s
and other organizations. The newsletter is
very informative; Ms. Canul gives highlights
of all the wonderful work they have
accomplished in the Orange Walk District.
They assisted many villages in their monthly
financial report, writing letters, and other
needed communication.
The Orange Walk DAVCO is responsible for
the collection of Liquor License fees for
villages and disbursement of the funds to the
villages.
Visit to Orange Walk DAVCO
In photo left to right (Mr. Fidelmar Hernandez –
President OW, DAVCO, Ms. Jacklin Ingram, Office
Assistant – NAVCO, Mr. Orlando Dawson, President
NAVCO, Mr. Hilbert Lopez - Chief Administrative
Office NAVCO.
Missing from this picture was NAVCO Peace
Corp. Volunteer Sandra Yamakishi. She was
the one that took the picture.
Mr. Fidelmar Hernandez
President Orange Walk DAVCO
Mr. Fidelmar
Hernandez is the President for DAVCO
Orange Walk for the past two years. He’s
also the 1st Vice – President for the National
Board (NAVCO), and the chairman of San
Estevan Village.
The Orange Walk DAVCO opens three days a
week. Their office is located at the Town Hall
Building in Orange Walk Town.
Monday: 8am – 5pm
Thursday: 8am – 5pm
Friday: 8am – 5pm
Ms. Olivia Canul is always at the DAVCO office
to assist Village Council Members.
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NAVCO Office Hours
Monday – Friday
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 pm.
Office Asst: Jacklin Ingram
Monday, Wednesday
Friday at NAVCO
Tuesdays & Thursdays
8:30am – 2:00pm
Cayo DAVCO Office:
Georgeville Village
The National Agriculture and Trade
Show Ground is a three day event
that is held every year. It is where
farmers, producers, business
owners, agencies, ministries and
other organizations have the
opportunity to promote and display
their products and services to the
country of Belize. The Ministry of
Agriculture has done a very
exceptional job at this year 2010
Agriculture Show; awards were
given out to farmers of the year.
This year the youngest farmer was a
seventeen year old female from San
Antonio village Cayo District. The
National Agriculture Show is
innovative, informative, and
educational. It’s very enjoyable with
all different type of foods, drinks,
games and mechanical rides and it’s
also fun - fill weekend for you and
your families.
So, if you missed this year’s show
here are some photos, and you all
can look forward to 2011.
Belize Red Cross Boot
Cassava and breadfruit on display
National Agriculture &
Trade Show Grounds 2010
President Orange Walk DAVCO
Arts & Craft design of Ancient Mayas
Delicious Bar-B-Que chicken
Mechanical Rides
Livestock
Main street of Agriculture Trade
ShowGrounds
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From:The National Association of Village Councils Staff
CONTACT INFORMATION
NAVCO OFFICE:
Address: Agriculture and Trade Show
Grounds, P.O. Box 648, Belmopan, Belize,
Central American
Telephone: 822-02053
Fax: 822-0192
Email Address:
New forthcoming email address on
Microsoft Outlook:
Website: http://.www.navco.org.bz
Ms. Jacklin Ingram:
Mr. Hilbert Lopez:
Chief Administrative Officer
Mr. Orlando Dawson: President
Quote for the month of May:
“Everyone is trying to accomplish
something big, not realizing that life is
made up of little things.”
Frank A. Clark
”Happy Mother's Day"
To all You Wonderful Moms!!!!!
"Happy Mother's Day" means more
than have a happy day.
Within those words lie lots of things
we never get to say.
It means I love you first of all,
then thanks for all you do.
It means you mean a lot to me,
And that I honor you.
But most of all, I guess it means
that I am thinking of
your happiness on this, your day,
with pleasure and with love.